Help the City fight the bite!

August 6, 2015

Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus - 8/6/15

The City received notification today from the lab it contracts with that mosquito samples adjacent to the Hyer Elementary School campus, the McCulloch Intermediate/Highland Park Middle School campus, and on the Southern Methodist University campushave tested positive for West Nile virus.

In response, the City will fog all parks, HPISD school campuses, and the SMU campus over a 2-night period. The effort begins tomorrow, Friday, August 7 and continues on Saturday, August 8. In addition, the City will fog streets and alleys city-wide on three successive nights starting Wednesday, August 11.

Fogging on HPISD school campuses will begin at 9 p.m. All other fogging will not begin until after 11 p.m.

Fogging Schedule -- August 2015

Parks & Campuses

August 7 (Weather Permitting)

11 p.m.

City Parks, HPISD School Campuses, and SMU Campus

August 8 (Weather Permitting)

11 p.m.

City Parks, HPISD School Campuses, and SMU Campus

Alleys & Streets

August 11 (Weather Permitting)

Both

11 p.m.

City Limits to City Limits

August 12 (Weather Permitting)

Both

11 p.m.

City Limits to City Limits

August 13 (Weather Permitting)

Both

11 p.m.

City Limits to City Limits

The City will continue to send mosquito samples to the lab for testing. Results from those tests will determine the City’s fogging schedule for the rest of August.

Eliminate any stagnant or standing water. This can be found in birdbaths, non-circulating fish or lily ponds, plant saucers, low areas in your lawn, and around outdoor water faucets, etc.

Reduce the amount of water placed on your lawn. Allow the top of the soil to dry out before watering again. Reprogram your irrigation controller based on the temperature and rainfall.

Cover exposed soil with cedar or cypress mulch if possible.

Clean out decomposed leaf matter from your storm gutters.

Keep any unnecessary plant growth cut back.

If you notice yards or other landscaped areas with an abundance of mosquitoes, or spot standing water call the Parks and Recreation Department at 214-987-5488.

Mosquito samples test positive for West Nile virus - 7/17/15

The City received notification this afternoon from Dallas County that mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus. In response, fogging will take place city-wide on three successive nights, Tuesday, July 21, Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 23. This includes all streets, alleys, parks, and the SMU campus. No fogging will begin until after 11 p.m.

In addition, the City will continue with the systematic fogging that is already scheduled for later this month.

Dallas County has notified the City that a mosquito sample taken from a trap adjacent to UP Elementary School has tested positive for West Nile virus. The City fogged all HPISD campuses in its jurisdiction on Saturday, September 27.Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus - 9/19/14

The City was notified this afternoon by the lab it contracts with that a mosquito sample located on the SMU Campus at 5900 Bishop Boulevard has tested positive for West Nile virus. The sample was collected early Thursday morning. Noting an increase in the number of mosquitoes found in that sample, the City proactively treated the interior of the campus Friday in the early morning hours, prior to classes. The City will place additional traps on campus Monday and continue to closely monitor mosquito counts there.
Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus - 9/12/14

Dallas County has notified the City that a mosquito sample taken from a trap adjacent to the Middle/Intermediate School has tested positive for West Nile virus. The City will fog all HPISD campuses in its jurisdiction on Saturday, September 13. Fogging will begin at those locations after 9 p.m. (See schedule below).Mosquito samples test positive for West Nile virus - 9/2/2014

Dallas County has notified the City that mosquito samples taken from traps adjacent to four HPISDs campuses (Hyer Elementary, UP Elementary, Middle/Intermediate School and the High School) have tested positive for West Nile virus.

City-wide truck fogging on successive nights

The City will truck fog all streets and alleys in the community on three successive nights, Tuesday, September 2, Wednesday, September 3 and Thursday, September 4. Truck fogging will begin at 11 p.m.

HPISD campus hand fogging on successive nights

The City will also hand fog all four HPISD campuses on three successive nights, Friday, September 5, Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7. Campus fogging will not begin until 11 p.m. on Friday. Campus fogging on Saturday and Sunday will begin at 8 p.m. Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus - 8/22/2014

Dallas County has notified the City that a 2nd mosquito sample taken from a trap adjacent to HPISD's Middle/Intermediate School campus has tested positive for West Nile virus. In response, Friday, August 22 the City will fog that campus, and all other HPISD campuses located in the City, as part of ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus. The City's fogging schedule for the remainder of August is detailed below.Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus - 8/15/2014

Dallas County has notified the City that a mosquito sample taken from a trap adjacent to HPISD's Middle/Intermediate School campus has tested positive for West Nile virus. In response, Saturday, August 16 the City will fog that campus as part of its ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus. Fogging will occur after 9 p.m. The City's fogging schedule for the remainder of August is detailed below.

Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus - 8/1/2014

The City has been notified by the lab it sends samples to that a mosquito sample taken from the northeast side of UP Elementary School has tested positive for West Nile virus. In response, Friday, August 1, the City will hand fog all four HPISD campuses in its jurisdiction, and retreat all City parks. This is the first time this summer that a mosquito has tested positive in University Park. Fogging will begin at 11 p.m. Because of an outdoor event at the Holmes Aquatic Center tonight, fogging at UP Elementary School won’t begin until after midnight.

The City began its systematic ground fogging schedule on April 1. This ongoing effort includes all streets, alleys and parks. The effort also involves ground fogging all interior streets on the SMU campus.

Because of today’s positive mosquito test, the City will treat the entirety of its streets and alleys on a much more aggressive schedule. Late night fogging will begin on Monday, August 4, and end following fogging efforts in the early morning hours of Friday, August 8. No fogging will begin until after 11 p.m.

This same schedule for alleys and streets will repeat the following week Monday, August 11 through the early morning hours of Friday, August 15. (See dates and times below)

The City’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of West Nile virus

Last March the City distributed an informational flyer to every household in the community. The flyer details steps residents should take to help the City fight the bite.

Since April, City staff has conducted numerous property inspections and provided residents with on-site advice on mosquito control. Since April the City has also provided residents with free mosquito dunks to kill mosquito larvae before they grow to become biting and disease-spreading adults.

To control mosquito breeding:

Drain all areas of standing water.

Change water in wading pools, pet dishes and birdbaths several times a week.

Keep backyard pools clean.

Keep unnecessary plant growth cut back.

Cover trash can containers so they will not collect water.

Use automatic sprinkler systems wisely. Don’t over water.

Clean or replace clogged roof gutters and downspouts.

To protect yourself and family members:

While outside during dawn and dusk hours wear long, loose and light-colored clothing.

Use insect repellents that contain DEET.

Contact the City of University Park about standing water locations:

If you notice yards or other landscaped areas with an abundance of mosquitoes, or spot areas of standing water:

City Parks and Recreation Department personnel will inspect your property for free and provide residents with on-site advice on mosquito control. Call 214-987-5488 or 3-1-1 to arrange an inspection.

Symptoms of West Nile virus

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus either have no symptoms (80%) or experience a mild or moderate illness with symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, or body aches before fully recovering. It is estimated that 20% of people who become infected with WNV will develop West Nile Fever. Of these, 1/150 persons may develop the more serious neuroinvasive West Nile.

Some persons may also develop a rash or swollen lymph glands. In some individuals, particularly persons 50 years of age and older, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that affects the brain and spinal tissue. Severe illness may include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), or acute flaccid paralysis (a polio-like syndrome in which muscles become very weak or paralyzed). Symptoms of more severe disease may include headache, high fever, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, confusion, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and/or paralysis. At its most serious, West Nile virus can cause permanent neurological damage and death. Among those people who need to be hospitalized for West Nile virus, 10-15% die of their illness. People who do develop symptoms normally become ill 3-15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito.

Fogging Schedule - October 2014

University Park is one of the few communities in North Texas that conducts a scheduled city-wide fogging program. The program follows accepted IPM (Integrated Pest Management) guidelines consisting of monitoring, trapping, larviciding and adulticiding. To target mosquitoes during peak daily activity, protect beneficial insects and limit exposure for outdoor pets and residents who have sensitivities, fogging is conducted overnight.

Section #1 Lovers Lane North to Northwest Parkway (City Limits to City Limits)

10/6

11 p.m. Alleys

10/7

11 p.m. Streets

10/20

11 p.m. Alleys

10/21

11 p.m. Alleys

Section #2 Lovers Lane South to Mockingbird (City Limits to City Limits)

10/8

11 p.m. Alleys

10/9

11 p.m. Streets

10/22

11 p.m. Alleys

10/23

11 p.m. Alleys

Interior of SMU Campus

10/9

After City Streets are treated in Sec. 2

10/23

After City Alleys are treated in Sec. 2

City Parks (Will begin after parks close at 11 p.m. on 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29)

The City is providing Mosquito Dunks (two to a pack) to University Park residents who stop by City Hall (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). To receive the product you must show proof of residency (Driver license). City Hall is located at 3800 University Blvd. Mosquito dunks will be provided, one pack to each resident, until the supply is gone. This same product can be purchased at most garden centers.

Mosquito Dunks look like a small, beige donut. They float in standing water. As the dunk slowly dissolves, it releases a bacterium which is toxic to all species of mosquito larvae. Dunks can be used in fish ponds, birdbaths, flower pots, rain barrels or any place where water collects and remains for a period of time. The dunks kill mosquito larvae before they grow to become biting and disease-spreading adults. The product is harmless to other living things. Each dunk is effective for a 30-day period.

Fight the Bite video

Members of the City’s Youth Advisory Commission helped the City produce aVIDEO demonstrating simple steps you can take around your home to control mosquitoes.